Quicks had 'fair bit of work' to do: Perry

Allrounder Ellyse Perry admits Australia's pace bowlers "had a fair bit of work to do" to bring themselves up to the recent lofty standards set by the team's spinners ahead of this month's Women's World Cup.

Australia's spinners dominated the home summer as Meg Lanning regularly threw the new ball to left-armer Jess Jonassen, while the hosts opted to play four frontline spinners in their T20s against New Zealand, with Megan Schutt the sole pace bowler in the playing XI. 

While that approach was influenced by the absence of Perry, who sat out the series with a hamstring injury, it was also largely thanks to the irresistible form of Jonassen and leg-spinners Kristen Beams and Amanda-Jade Wellington.

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But with head coach Matthew Mott declaring a desire to return to a more traditional attack in English conditions, Perry said the pressure had been on the quick bowlers to ensure they were up to the task.

"The pace unit felt like we needed to do a fair bit of work over the last couple months," Perry said in Sydney on the eve of the Australian squad's departure for London.

"We saw that because there was such a heavy focus on spin in our summer, so I think we've taken that on board and hopefully the stuff we've done in preparation will come through.

"You've got to have a really good balance between the spin and pace options, particularly in England where the ball typically swings and seams more as well.

"So the pace unit had a fair bit of work to do just getting up to the standard the spinners have been setting.

"But from that point of view we've got a good balance now and hopefully we'll be successful over in England."

Australia will field a new-look pace attack at the tournament in England, with Perry and Schutt joined by uncapped pair Sarah Aley and Belinda Vakarewa, who were included in place of injured Lauren Cheatle and Rene Farrell, who retired from the one-day game in April.

At just 19 years of age, Vakarewa has bolted into the Australian squad eight months after making her domestic debut, while seasoned campaigner Aley is a chance to play her maiden game in Australian colours aged 33.

Perry, who plays alongside both newcomers at NSW, said the pair had slotted nicely into the World Cup group.

"They're both very much opposite ends of the spectrum of their playing careers and I've been fortunate enough to play with both," Perry said.

"They're both really exciting and have added quite a lot to our bowling attack, and Sarah is a particularly handy batter in the lower order."

Australia's 15-player squad spent five weeks together at Queensland training camps with Perry declaring the intense preparation had the team in the best possible position to defend their 2013 title.

"It's the biggest preparation I've ever been involved in," Perry noted.

"We had a bit of time off after the New Zealand series in March then we had five weeks as a group in full-time training with a mix of nets, fitness and some game scenarios.

"It's been a really solid preparation."

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Australia will spend a further week at a training camp in Southampton in the UK, before their campaign gets underway against the West Indies in Taunton on June 26.

The round-robin nature of the tournament will see the Australians play the other seven teams across three weeks and Perry believes there will be no easy matches for the world's No.1 ranked side.

"Every team will be a real threat to us in this World Cup, there are no easy games," she warned.

"From that point of view I think the competition will be incredible and with the added interest and publicity around the tournament, and the fact England always hold great tournaments, it will be awesome for us and for all involved."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy nation

Schedule

1 June – England beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

2 June – New Zealand v Australia, No Result

3 June – Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 96 runs

4 June – India beat Pakistan by 124 runs

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, No Result

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)